Nelson Mandela, 92, South Africa's iconic first democratically elected president, is in good health, despite foreign rumors to the contrary, his family told City Press newspaper in Johannesburg on Sunday.

In Ljubljana, Slovenia, organizers of a gala event for Mandela's art and charity project were informed by email that Mandeals'grandson, Mandla Mandela, was unable to attend because the older man's health had deteriorated so much that family members had been told not to leave South Africa.

However, Mandla Mandela told City Press that he had never intended to attend the function in Slovenia.

He also said it was "absolutely untrue" that his grandfather was seriously ill.

"My grandfather is in good health. His only problem the past few years has been his weakened knees," he said.

"His sense of humor has aged like good wine as he gets older. He becomes funnier by the day."

Mandla Mandela also said nobody in the family has been told not to leave the country.

He added that he was himself due to accompany the South African parliament's committee for rural development to Botswana and Malawi next month. The Nelson Mandela Foundation confirmed that all was well with the former president's health.Mandela's last public appearance was a brief attendance at the FIFA World Cup final in Johannesburg on July 11.